Floodwater reduces business at Parika Market

 The flooded area in front of the market
The flooded area in front of the market

Vendors at the Parika Market suffered a loss of sales yesterday after rainfall water swamped sections of it, preventing shoppers from gaining access.

When Stabroek News visited after midday yesterday the water had receded a little and there were a few consumers who waded through the water with long boots to make purchases.

The vendors also had to go through the floodwaters to sell some products as customers waited in their vehicles.

Vendors would be returning home with most of their produce though and one man who had a lot of bread remaining on his stall said usually by 10 a.m. all of it is sold.

The vendors told this newspaper too that they went out very early and set up for business in the heavy rain and soon after the water started to rise. The high section in the market was dry but there were some areas where vendors had to do business in the floodwaters. Some of them were also forced to close their stall early and return home. Store owners also had to set up sandbags to prevent the water entering their stores.

Meanwhile, in other areas including Tuschen, Zeelugt and Cornelia Ida, residents’ yards were covered in almost knee-deep water.

They told this newspaper that it seems as though they would need boats to leave their yards. Some were afraid that they would lose the produce in their kitchen gardens.